Recap: Washington Humane Society’s Bark Ball 2013

June 21st, 2013

U.S. Chamber of Commerce table (Photo Credit: Vivian Leslie)

Hundreds of DC-area animal lovers and their four-legged dates turned out for the 26th annual Bark Ball on Saturday, June 8, at the Washington Hilton. The sold-out event raised money for the Washington Humane Society (WHS) via ticket sales and auction, and featured a reception, seated dinner, presentation, auction, dancing and gift bag.

Geared toward a different crowd than the WHS’s annual Fashion for Paws runway show, the Bark Ball is the city’s only black-tie event where guests are permitted – nay, encouraged – to bring their dogs. The most dapper canines take the attire specification quite literally; every year, dozens of four-legged dates wear black tie ensembles or sport fashionable hats, to the delight of the biped attendees.

This year’s event sponsors included Excel Services Corporation, DC London, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Exxon-Mobil, to name just a few; the Bark Bar – set up exclusively for canine guests – was provided by Northern Virginia dog bakery and pet sitting service Barkley Square, which even offers a pet taxi.

Kristina Robertson in Saks Fifth Avenue with Gabby the dog – barkleysquare.com (Photo Credit: Vivian Leslie)

Finally, while the Bark Ball is geared toward dogs, WHS has not forgotten the felines: in honor of Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month, cat adoptions at the Washington Humane Society are just $25 for the rest of the month.